Adam lurked in the shadow of an alley. The months were passing agonizingly slowly, Cinder and Neo tried to spend most of their time attempting to find work with bandits but instead ended up having to try and stay one step ahead of Qrow. As he cut his way through the bandit safe holds in the city, their options grew less and less. It had gotten so bad that in the last month Neo had been forced to get a job as a waitress. Needless to say she was not happy with that. She might be mute but that midget had one scary resting bitch face.

Cinder wasn't any better, she was too well recognised now with her name and picture plastered all over the city. He hated coming back to the apartment, the little witch was always scowling and took every opportunity to chew him out. Adam had been the one to watch Ruby. Mostly because he didn't trust Cinder not to try something before it was safe. He could already imagine the glee that would fill Cinder when she got to kill the little Euclase.

What Adam didn't know was he wasn't the only one watching or being watched as the case was. Hawk lounged on the roof above Adam, these youngeresters were just awful at staking. She played with a piece of taffy, rolling it around in her mouth. She and Falcon had been entertaining themselves tailing the three Salem pawns. This also let them see plenty of their son and granddaughter which was a nice bonus, if from a distance.

Hawk stared up at the sky. It was warm for the time of year and was cloudless. She was so proud of her little Qrow, he was coming into his own as a father and warrior. Seeing him bathe his hands in blood for Xaio Roi and Ozpin had been very entertaining. Watching him start to get a high off of it, ohh even more so. She idly played with a long black lock around her finger. Yes, Qrow was growing up nicely. Raven had taken the tribe into hiding, probably preparing for Salem's retaliation.

She pulled out her Scroll and checked the time. "Right then." Silently she got up and walked away from Adam, he wouldn't bother her family today. Not when Ozpin and Qrow were around. They would take too much glee in ripping him limb from limb or skipping rope with his entrails and Adam knew that. Really Hawk couldn't believe that the faunus had been the one to part Yang from her arm. Hawk dropped down into the alley and started to walk to Griffith Park.

When she arrived at the closed in park Falcon was already there. His lean figure was clothed in black as per usual, though he had left the scarf he favoured at home. On his hip lay a new sword, Blood Drinker, a gift from an acquaintance they had hun ted down in Mistral. She joined her husband under a thick tree. "How goes the wait?"

"Ended." Beckett stepped into view. "Hawk." He dipped his head and tapped his long claws on the back of his book. The tall man offered his hand to Falcon.

Falcon took it and didn't even twitch as Beckett's claws cut his wrist shallowly. Beckett released him and opened his book brushing the blood off onto the pages. "Hmm." Beckett walked away a few steps for staying in the shadows.

"Well?"

"The potential is there, you will just have to wait and see." Beckett closed the book and placed it in his book bag.

"That is not very helpful." Falcon's eyes narrowed.

"Magic can only be encouraged not controlled. You will simply have to wait to see how it develops." Beckett said.

"Fine. Thank you for your time."

Nora swung her legs back and forth as she sat up in a tree. Lie was sitting under the said with a book, occasionally having to dodge his girlfriend's energetic movements. Yang bounced down the steps from Haven's main walkway. Weiss walked behind her with a little bounce in her more sedate pace. "Hi everyone! Ready to go?"

Yang turned with her hands behind her back her long mane now swinging back and forth below her butt. "Blake said she was coming." The blonde bounced up into the tree beside Nora. "Kiss?"

Nora grabbed Yang by the roots of her hair and they got stares from the deep wet kisses. Lie stared up with a grin on his lips. "Don't forget about Jaune. He asked to come too."

The ginger let Yang go and they bounced down from the tree. As they did Jaune came jogging up to them. "Sorry I'm late, got slowed down in the rush."

"It's okay we are still waiting for Blake." Lie said.

While the group chatted, waiting for their Faunus Blake came around the corner with Sun at her side and two other Faunus Yang didn't recognise. Blakes eyes widened at the waiting group, wetting her lips. "Ermm."

Weiss tottered over her gaze natural. "Blake, we made plans to go to the shopping district remember? To buy Eclase some new clothes. Are you coming?"

"Oh!" Blake made a little gesture, an apology on her face. "I'm sorry, I must have forgotten. You see I promised Sun I would meet some of the faunus in the area, I can't really back out now. Any chance we can do that on another day?"

The sudden awkward tension rose and Weiss glanced over her shoulder at Yang, her friend's shoulders slumped ever so slightly. With a polite smile she shook her head. "It's alright, You enjoy yourselves, we shall go together another time."

Sun seemingly not picking up on the conflicted feelings gave the group a big grin and snatched up the feline's hand in his. "Thanks Weiss! You guys have a great time. Oh! And give Ruby my best!"

Without further ado Blake was carted off with the other Faunus, her head tilted back once to see Yang looking through her Scroll, frowned but left with her more enthusiastic friend.

Yang kept her eyes glued to the screen as she listened to the group leave, "Seems Blake isn't coming." She let out a long slow breath. Shaking her head she thrust the Scroll away and plastered a large grin on her face. "Right then, let's make Ruby's day and do all her shopping for her!" Yang fist pumped.

If anyone wanted to comment on what just happened they smothered under their own smiles and jeers, letting out a collected "Hurra!" as they all headed out down into the city.

The summer evening air was humid and a little damp from the rain the day before but it seemed to have little effect on the teams as they headed towards their first destination. Their first stop was for baby clothes. They didn't go to a general store but rather then go to a specialized store they went to a brazar. One that Nora had scouted out after school one day. It had a little corner dedicated to babies, all home made items. Euclase was growing faster than Ruby found time to buy clothes. By the time they were being washed Euclase was outgrowing them and Ozpin and Qrow were equally busy. So onesies were first on the list, followed by more diapers as it was near impossible to have too many of those.

Once there it was Jaune who surprisingly took over the direction for the shop. He may be the youngest of seven sisters but that just meant that he had lots of nieces and nephews and therefore was well versed in what to buy. Everyone pitched in and helped carry the bags. After diapers came the hunt for bibs.

"How about this one?" Weiss held up a plain blue bib.

"Kinda boring." Yang said quirking her lips and walking over. "This one has got a forest pattern. I bet Oz would like that for her." She lifted up a bib and showed it to Weiss.

"You're right that one is better." Weiss picked it up and paid for her.

They shopped for another half hour then headed to Lydia's. Ruby was in the backyard with Qrow and Ozpin, they were all sitting in the grass with Euclase sitting in Qrow's lap. Ozpin was weaving a crown out of grass… with shards of grass floating through the air. Euclase was clapping and giggling at the floating pieces. They had never seen Oz use magic so casually before, but then maybe making Euclase happy twisted his arm.

As they settled around them, Oz wove the pieces together into a crown and levitated it onto Euclase's head. She clapped her hands looking straight up at Oz. "Pa, Pa, Pa!"

Ozpin grinned and offered her his hand, she grabbed it and pulled it to her mouth so she could gum on his thumb. "So cute."

Yang pulled open her paper shopping bag and pulled out an emerald and blue onesies. "She'll be super cute in this!"

"Aww that's so cute! Thank you Yang!" Ruby took it from her and offered it to Euclase. "It's blue and green, do you like it?"

Euclase stared at it for a moment, then looked up to Qrow. Then she closed her eyes.

Qrow felt his bond to her, widen it was weird to not be controlling it himself. "Borrowing my eyes?" He asked, and the bond gave him warmth.

Euclase looked back at the onesie and babbled happily. Qrow chuckled and pet her head. "Seems she likes blue and green."

Ruby giggled. "Thanks everyone for doing the shopping. I really hate going out. The vultures are still circling."

"I like shopping plus it's less stressful on you guys. You have enough to worry about with Summer break coming up. Are you still going through with the plan to visit the Mabino?" Weiss asked brushing her skirt down, she was sitting beside Ruby watching Euclase pat Oz's hand. She may be just a little bias but her God-daughter was the cutest baby in all of Remnant.

"Yes, we've already put it off long enough. Xiao Roi has been very understanding with us so far but to ignore him now would be rude. We can't afford to be rude, especially with how new and fragile this truce is. It will just be a visit for pleasure so we shouldn't have to worry too much." Ruby laid down in the grass. "I'm kinda looking forward to getting out of this city for a while."

A hand carded through her hair, Ruby looked up at her sister and saw the faint sheen of sadness. Then it occurred to her how they seemed to be one down. "Where's Blake?"

Yang's face tightened but she only shrugged. "Went with Sun, she sends her best by the way."

Before Ruby could question her sister further a wail of outrage snapped her attention away. Nora had managed to steal Euclase from Oz and was now holding her away from her puke covered dress. While everyone burst into laughter Nora gave the infant a look of betrayal.

Ruby chuckled loudly before standing and taking her daughter from the still shocked redhead. "Let that be a lesson that Euclase doesn't like being taken from her Papa. Alright sweetheart, let's get you cleaned up." Ruby started off towards the house, the baby in her arms squealing in excitement and for the time being the picture of her sister's sad expression forgotten.

Lilac eyes peered out the darkened window without really seeing anything. The humid day had given way to a welcomed thunderstorm, rain poured like a thick curtain over the school grounds below and other then the occasion flash of lightning the night was a blackened dark.

The sound of the rain hitting the glass pane was muted and Yang didn't dare open the window for worry of waking her friends. Well maybe not all of them, she thought as she glanced over at the conjoined beds, one spot near where she had been lying empty of her dark haired friend. Blake hadn't returned tonight, she sent a message that she was staying over with those that she was out with earlier. There was no need to trek back to the dorm in this storm. It was understandable, it was sensible, heck it was even something that would be encouraged. So why did Yang feel like her world was crumbling all around her?

Golden tresses obscured her form as she sat on the window sill, her knees pulled up, arms circling them tightly and her head resting over them. She had tried to sleep but even with the warm soft cuddling of their group Yang wasn't able to find enough peace to settle. When had everything changed? Why had it? This time two years ago she was dancing through life with such strength and fire that it burned a trail behind her. Sometimes literally.

Then the Fall happened.

Everything had changed from them and while Yang saw how the rest of her friends has taken it in stride, overcoming countless odd and blockades, she on the other hand had simply not. Her dad always said she was the who burned too brightly, she was rash at times always running towards the next adventure, the newest challenge that sometimes she drifted too far away. Yang had never been one for the mundane or even stability but now… those were things she craved more then anything.

It felt wrong, all her life, all her decisions and ambitions, none of it mattered anymore. Even when she had finally found Raven, all those questions and emotions, none of them had meant anything to her mother. She hadn't even gotten the answers she sought after so many years. Blake was drifting away, sometimes Yang felt like she was becoming little more then wisps of air. Impossible to grasp. Even Ruby, her cherished sister had changed. She was married! And a mother!

What had become of the time when Yang had been her big sister, always there to help and offer advice. She had helped raise the younger girl and had been a constant figure in her life. But now she had Ozpin and Qrow. Ruby didn't need her big sister anymore.

Hot tears blurred Yang's vision as she fought to keep them at bay. There was more to the world then even her open minded, adventure seeking heart had thought possible and it was frightening. She was scared of all these changes, she was scared of losing herself to this new and frightening world. But more than anything she was afraid that she was being left behind. Yang glared at the metal arm attached to her body. She was a liability, a rash fighter and her temper still burned hotter than the sun and quicker then the lightning brandishing outside.

Another flash of white illuminated the room, catching on dulled bloody red eyes. Without conscience thought Yang slid away from the window. Her feet finding home in her well loved boots before she slowly and silently opened the dorm door. Within minutes she was outside, seconds in the rain had her soaked to the bone as she had forgotten her coat and with only her tank and shorts she made her way around the school.

Bart was grading papers in his apartment, a cup of hot chocolate beside him. Normally he would be having coffee but it was nearly two in the morning and he wanted to sleep at some point. Ozpin was right about a number of things and one of them was that having a warm drink when its raining was a superb way to relax.

He was just bringing the hot cup to his mouth again when the faintest and quietest of knocks sounded at his door. His curtains were shut against the rain and his dim light wouldn't be producing from beneath the door so whoever was there wouldn't have known he was awake. Socked feet padded over to the door and the doctor threw it wide open, ready to give a tongue lashing for disturbing people in the middle of the night when he fell silent.

Yang stood there, soaked beyond belief, her beautiful hair plastered to her head in tangled wind blown locks. Her flesh hand cupping her other shoulder tightly while the mechanical arm hung limp at her side. Her whole posture was slumped and when she lifted her head just enough those lavender coloured eyes flickered with red, confusion and sorrow weeping from them.

Bart stood there in stillness, unsure what had happened to cause Yang to be in such distress. His whole being ached to pulled her into his arms and offer her solace but he wasn't sure what to do.

"I-." Yang stuttered out, the cold and rain finally sinking in as her body gave great quivering shakes. "I'm s-o-sorry, 's-late. I just … I-I just n-needed someone to h-hold me. Please." Her voice was barely a whisper and despite the pounding rain outside it was all he could hear. Without a hint of hesitation Bart opened his arms wide. Yang didn't think, she just let out a sob and launched herself into the flat, into those warm and inviting arms and wailed.

Bart simply held her, uncaring that his clothes were growing wet, that his work was left abandoned on the table and that his drink was left untouched. All that mattered now was the woman in his arms crying, her tears raining harder than the storm clouds outside could compare.

Qrow walked up the steps to the temple of Afrien that Iroh stayed at. He liked it as a quiet spot in the city, not so fine as to draw massive hoards of people but well taken care of. It was homely. The red eyed huntsman walked in the guards nodding to him with little smiles as he went. The heavy scent of lavender incense filled his nose and he exhaled all the stress he had been carrying around.

Iroh pulled at his long grey beard as he walked into the hall and stopped upon seeing Qrow. "Come again I see. How do you fair this day Muninn?"

Qrow dipped his head respectfully to his elder. "It's been very busy, I was hoping to talk to you."

"Oh course! I just saw one of the page boys carry more wood into the sauna. Care to join me?" Iroh patted his stomach, as if he was planning on eating something too. "I also have a fresh batch of jasmine flowers finally ready to be made into a heart warming tea."

Qrow laughed. "You and your tea. Sure I could do with an hour or two in a sauna."

They walked deeper into the warm temple and came to a stone room. With large fires set deep into the stone, at this late hour priests and priestesses were also bathing in the room. Sweating out the days grime. Qrow and Iroh undressed tying short towels around their hips before stepping into the hot room.

They walked over to a stone bench and Iroh set about making tea on the low set fire. "Making tea is so relaxing, the time spent just focused on a singular task, one that provides such serene peace, it truly is lovely. So what is on your mind then Muninn?" Iroh sat beside Qrow as his water warmed.

Qrow smiled slightly at Iroh's use of his soul name. No one else used it so casually but it never made his magic rise up in response. If anything Qrow had a handle on it and could summon or dismiss it at will. "Actually I have a question for you first… do you know a man named Beckett?"

"Oh yes, he's like you. His name is Gangrel, he also has several centuries of development on you." Iroh took his now boiling water off the fire. "Your father is in the city as well and has gone to Gangrel in hopes of waking his own magic."

"Falcon is here?!" Qrow's brows shot up. He had thought that Raven had killed him.

"And you're mother." Iroh added his tea petals to the water. "Still what is it about Gangrel that interests you?"

"I was just wondering about him. His magic is so much more developed than mine. Yet he doesn't really seem… I don't know. Human anymore." Qrow shrugged, sweat and water was dripping down his back but it was a nice feeling in the sauna.

"And you wonder if you will end up much in the same way. Hmm." Iroh moved to sit beside Qrow. "Beckett is much older than you, that said I am surprised your claws haven't become a permanent fixture. I think it would surprise you to know how many faunus are actually magic users. Most soul names reflect some sort of animal and those animal aspects come through." Iroh stroked his beard. "Hmm, magic has also been growing stronger in the last two or so years. Even Beckett has been growing in strength. Yes, I doubt it will be much longer before your body takes on an aspect of your soul."

"I...see." Qrow frowned into the fire.

They sat for a couple minutes in silence before Iroh poured the tea into plain ceramic cups. He handed Qrow one and they had several sips in silence. Eventually Qrow said. "I guess I'll keep that in mind. Ozpin, Ruby and I are going to visit the Mabino over the summer break. I'm still not sure it's a good idea."

"If you do not learn to trust then you will never grow as a person." Iroh sipped his tea. "You will not be alone and Xiao Roi has no interest in hurting you. You are much too valuable as is your husband and wife."

"How do you know that?" Qrow asked.

Iroh smiled and drank his tea rather then respond. "I do not think we will meet again Muninn." He sipped again. "Enjoy your tea."

Qrow wasn't sure what any of that meant and did enjoy the tea. He closed his eyes and let the sweet flesh flavours dance over his tongue and when he opened his eyes he was alone. The red eyed man spun around but didn't see Iroh anywhere. He did however feel the imprint of words on the plain cup. He turned it over in his hand and read the new scripture. Property of the Dragon of the West.